The township fire department is adding manpower to its force as 16 new, part-time firefighters were sworn in this week.

Fire Chief Mark Martin said the new firefighters, some of whom will serve as paramedics, will begin an orientation process in February and be placed on a probationary period for a matter of months depending on skill set.

“The process can go up to a year. We’re adding good, trained people, some who have experience,” the chief said.

Once on the job, the firefighters will average about 28 hours of service per week, said Martin. He added that the 16 people sworn in Tuesday might have been the most the township has ever seen for a swearing-in ceremony.

The group replaces firefighters who had exited voluntarily to take full-time positions elsewhere, and some who had left via retirement over the past few months, according to Township Trustee Lee Laubacher.

“These are important positions,” said Laubacher of the incoming class of part-time firefighters. “In today’s world, there aren’t enough volunteers to cover all three of our stations.”

Overall, there are 43 part-time Perry firefighters, not counting the 16 recently sworn in, Martin said. The township has a dozen full-time firefighters.

Martin said another 11 part-time firefighters are likely to be sworn in during the township trustees’ next regular meeting, which is slated for 7 p.m. Feb. 4. That would bring the part time total to 70 if all successfully finish their probationary period.